The Denver City Council unanimously approved a measure Tuesday that will underline and expand the authority of the Office of the Independent Monitor, potentially resolving a conflict about the independent agency.

The OIM, which is part of the city, monitors the disciplinary process for law-enforcement officers and recommends policy changes. Last year, though, Mayor Michael Hancock’s administration excluded the office from part of a review involving former Police Chief Robert White.

The new bill gives the OIM the express power to monitor investigations into the police chief and sheriff. Hancock’s office had argued that those leaders are different because they are mayoral appointees, not regular city employees.

The bill also says that OIM can publish policy papers and in-depth investigations, and that the safety agencies must respond in writing to the office’s suggestions. It also bans retaliation against whistleblowers.

“Having the right rules in place helps to create that feeling of trust,” said Councilwoman At-large Robin Kniech, who worked on the bill with Councilman Paul López and Councilman Paul Kashmann. “… I don’t think the system we had was broken, but I do think it was outdated.”

The idea for the change originally came from Denver’s citizen oversight board, which also oversees police activity, Kniech said.

“All the changes that we requested were made, so we’re good,” he said. In a letter, the union raised concerns on a variety of topics, including the timing of certain reports to the OIM and the appointment process for the citizen oversight board.

The final bill included tweaks on those topics, but left in place the big-ticket items.

Council members Kevin Flynn, Chris Herndon and Mary Beth Susman were absent Tuesday.

Andrew Kenney covers Denver and its government. He's interested in how power and development are shaping the city. He previously worked as a reporter for The (Raleigh) News & Observer and for Denverite. Email him at akenney@denverpost.com or call 303-954-1785.